Atheist zealots annoy me to no end.

The BBQ Pit
441

Um are you really that stupid? The topic is atheist zealots. I differentiate between atheists who go about their lives not believing and not caring what another person believes if it doesn’t step over into legal matters and pissed off idiots who have a personal vendetta and want all people to admit that THEY are right and there is not God.

What’s funny to me is how LOBOHAN has stated that a burning bush or God doing something to prove he exists, or other examples of what “what running uphill for 24 hours” by other posters are basically suggesting that THEY will consider that God exists if God proves himself to them personally.

That’s what it would take to get them to reconsider their opinion.

Yet when other people who say they have had personal experiences that proved to them that God exists, they are “Stupid” and “fucking morons”

This is what I’m talking about. Its almost like a pathetic cry for help that if they get angry enough God will come down and prove himself to them.

From my perspective as someone who recognizes God belief as a evolutionary coping mechanism as a result of the development of language, I don’t get angry and upset when people believe in God because I believe that people are genetically programmed to believe in God to stave off a suicide impulse.

I will post a paper I wrote about it, not fancy stuff but interesting. I believe that from an evolutionary standpoint that once mankind had “awareness” the existential depression that would lead to death impulse was staved off by those early humans that used God theory to comfort themselves. Its also why to me ritual sacrifice is part of religion. One dying for the many helped to control the impulse to suicide.

I am examining if language development in whale song which is the closest we have to actual language, and the evidence of awareness in whales coupled with the fact that many whales beach themselves might prove my theory.

I only mention this because I am indeed an atheist, I have no emotional reaction to God theory or what people believe because I don’t get mad at them for doing it, I don’t think most people can help it.

442

[QUOTE=Der Trihs]
First, arguments against the possibility of faster than light travel aren’t the same as arguments against interstellar travel in general. Given that stars and interstellar gas travel across the distances between stars, we know that interstellar travel is possible; there are no invisible walls.

And second, we have evidence that technological life can exist; we are that evidence.

Your analogy simply doesn’t work, not even a little. We know that other stars and planets exist. We know that various forms of matter and energy travel between them. We know that life and intelligence and technology exists. We know that space travel is possible. We don’t know that for certain that the specific technology of interstellar travel is possible, but the evidence is that it is, even if it might mean taking millennia to do it.

What do we hear claimed about God that is possible ? For example, you claim that he exists beyond physical laws; we have no evidence that ANYTHING does so, or can. He’s typically claimed to be omnipotent and omniscient; no evidence that those are possible either.

It is CERTAIN that it is a possibility; we are the proof that it’s possible.

It’s certainly more evidence than the Bible. If you take the Bible seriously as evidence of anything, you’re a fool.
[/QUOTE]

Ah, Jesus Christ, another fucking Trekkie. Your answers aren’t “out there”, pal. If you have faith that there is life on other planets then prove it. You Trekkies are even weirder than the religionists. You won’t believe God is coming but you are perfectly willing to believe that a flying saucer might land and solve all of mankinds problems like 'The Day The Earth Stood Still". Or, you think that mankind will spread out into the Universe and find the answers there.

Doesn’t matter. You won’t be around if man achieves any type of serious space travel. So, you may as well deal with your shitty life as it is.

Or, you can dream. But then, you can put your dreams in one hand and shit in the other and see which has more tangibility.

443

[QUOTE=Zambini57]
Ah, Jesus Christ, another fucking Trekkie. Your answers aren’t “out there”, pal. If you have faith that there is life on other planets then prove it. You Trekkies are even weirder than the religionists. You won’t believe God is coming but you are perfectly willing to believe that a flying saucer might land and solve all of mankinds problems like 'The Day The Earth Stood Still". Or, you think that mankind will spread out into the Universe and find the answers there.
[/quote]
Uh, and what does that have to do with anything I said ? “Trekkie” ? And what “answers” were I claiming were “out there” ? And when did I say anything about solving mankind’s problems ?

444

[QUOTE=Zambini57]
Ah, Jesus Christ, another fucking Trekkie. Your answers aren’t “out there”, pal. If you have faith that there is life on other planets then prove it. You Trekkies are even weirder than the religionists. You won’t believe God is coming but you are perfectly willing to believe that a flying saucer might land and solve all of mankinds problems like 'The Day The Earth Stood Still". Or, you think that mankind will spread out into the Universe and find the answers there.

Doesn’t matter. You won’t be around if man achieves any type of serious space travel. So, you may as well deal with your shitty life as it is.

Or, you can dream. But then, you can put your dreams in one hand and shit in the other and see which has more tangibility.
[/QUOTE]

I know you’re just trying to get a rise, but it would work better if you actually attacked someone’s ideas or what they actually said.

445

[QUOTE=red_awning]
What’s funny to me is how LOBOHAN has stated that a burning bush or God doing something to prove he exists, or other examples of what “what running uphill for 24 hours” by other posters are basically suggesting that THEY will consider that God exists if God proves himself to them personally.

That’s what it would take to get them to reconsider their opinion.

Yet when other people who say they have had personal experiences that proved to them that God exists, they are “Stupid” and “fucking morons”

This is what I’m talking about. Its almost like a pathetic cry for help that if they get angry enough God will come down and prove himself to them.
[/QUOTE]
Or, doofball, it’s the atheists saying, “Yes, we’re rational, and are willing to consider the evidence. It’s just that the so-called evidence that you theists claim to have is crap.”

Are you saying that you would accept no evidence, no matter how compelling and well-supported it might be? If so then you’re as stupid as the theists, beliving on wilfully blind faith alone.

Plus you’re deliberately pretending that there’s some level of equality between the “personal” evidence that atheists are willing to accept (which usually involves recordability, repeatability, and concensus), and the personal “evidence” that theists accept, which usually equates to a daydream or a warm fuzzy feeling after being guided to meditate with a supportive group. You can’t possibly be doing this faulty, deceptive analogy in good faith…unless you really are that stupid.

I don’t care if there’s a god. However, if some god wanted to prove it existed, I’m not stupid enough to say that it’s impossible.

446

[QUOTE=fluiddruid]
Zambini57,
Edited to add: After checking your prior history of warnings, your posting privileges are under review.
[/QUOTE]

Go fuck yourself “fluiddruid” .

My posting history was ALREADY checked once before, and I did my penance in the form of a 30 day suspension. But, since apparently you don’t like what I have to say ('Wishing death", c’mon. Your buddy might prefer those types of reach-arounds, but I don’t. Telling someone to “go die” is not the same as saying “I hope/wish you die”, and you know it)

But, you’ll do whatever you want, and I don’t care. My subscription is up in April, and if you want to ban me now, I don’t give a shit. This board sucks anyway. Everyone knows it. The service is shitty, the board always times out. You take our money and give a shitty product in return.

And we all know you just want a nice, peaceful MMP type board.

447

[QUOTE=Zambini57]
Go fuck yourself “fluiddruid” .

My posting history was ALREADY checked once before, and I did my penance in the form of a 30 day suspension. But, since apparently you don’t like what I have to say ('Wishing death", c’mon. Your buddy might prefer those types of reach-arounds, but I don’t. Telling someone to “go die” is not the same as saying “I hope/wish you die”, and you know it)

But, you’ll do whatever you want, and I don’t care. My subscription is up in April, and if you want to ban me now, I don’t give a shit. This board sucks anyway. Everyone knows it. The service is shitty, the board always times out. You take our money and give a shitty product in return.

And we all know you just want a nice, peaceful MMP type board.
[/QUOTE]
Wow, you must be one hell of an idiot to post here if you hate it that much. In fact, I’ll extend that to everyone who posts here while thinking that “this board sucks anyway”.

448

[QUOTE=Zambini57]
Go fuck yourself “fluiddruid” .

My posting history was ALREADY checked once before, and I did my penance in the form of a 30 day suspension. But, since apparently you don’t like what I have to say ('Wishing death", c’mon. Your buddy might prefer those types of reach-arounds, but I don’t. Telling someone to “go die” is not the same as saying “I hope/wish you die”, and you know it)

But, you’ll do whatever you want, and I don’t care. My subscription is up in April, and if you want to ban me now, I don’t give a shit. This board sucks anyway. Everyone knows it. The service is shitty, the board always times out. You take our money and give a shitty product in return.

And we all know you just want a nice, peaceful MMP type board.
[/QUOTE]
Sorry to interrupt here, but just a minute.

Let’s see here now . . . six warnings in less than a year . . . already been suspended for the same bad behavior . . .

Well, not much left for us to do, sad to say.

And we now return you to your discussion. Apologies again for the interruption.

449

[QUOTE=Zambini57]
Huh.

I made a post awhile back about Native Americans, and the reasons for their spirituality, which , if you have researched it like I have, have read the books like I did, you would know that their belief system, their spirituality was based on gratitude. Gratitude for what we would call simple things. Gratitude for rain, for fertile soil, for good crops, healthy livestock, strong children.

What dumbasses they were.
[/QUOTE]

The tragedy is that he didn’t stop there, because at this moment it’s pretty damn hilarious.

450

[QUOTE=Voyager]
In context, he meant that each of us has a personal Fred. No I agree it would be interesting if different Freds could communicate - but there is no evidence of this. An uberFred would talk to all, and the result might look like communication - no evidence of this either.

[/QUOTE]
Right no scientific evidence because science is just beginning to explore that area. I’m saying people have profound experiences that at least for them, feel as if those things are or may be true. It seems worth exploring. They use the term spirit instead of Fred and god instead of UberFred. For those who sincerely seek answers I resist being categorized as irrational, gullible, lacking in reason etc

IMO it’s pretty shortsighted.

Not what I was thinking but I see your point.

I get it and I appreciate the clarification. Still don’t value that type of argument much though.

That’s an interesting thought. It might be like the South Park episode where the different atheist militant groups are battling for supremacy.

451

Um, I’m not pretending that God loves me. I might be wrong, but I am not pretending. If anything, I am pretending that He loves you, and wants me to learn to do that as well. But, I think I am right about that too, it’s just a bit harder in practice. For me, that is.

I am sure that that is entirely illogical as well, but it is important to me.

Tris

452

[QUOTE=cosmosdan]
Right no scientific evidence because science is just beginning to explore that area. I’m saying people have profound experiences that at least for them, feel as if those things are or may be true. It seems worth exploring. They use the term spirit instead of Fred and god instead of UberFred. For those who sincerely seek answers I resist being categorized as irrational, gullible, lacking in reason etc

IMO it’s pretty shortsighted.

[/QUOTE]

Really? The SPR has been around for well over a century. They started just before Madame Curie started working on radiation. On the science side, we’ve got nuclear power, bombs, and a pretty good understanding of the interior of the atom. On the spiritual side we’ve got … Psychic Friends Network?

Sorry, joke. I realize that has nothing to do with what you’re talking about, but there hasn’t been a lot of progress, and no reason to expect any.

That’s certainly neither irrational nor gullible, but I think it is excessively hopeful.

453

Again I point out that its interesting that the angry atheists say the reason Religion is offensive is because of the “issues” yet they stedfastly remain arguing the concept of faith.

That to me is a very interesting thing because it smacks of not wanting to be able to walk away unless you get people to agree that you are right and there’s no way there can be a God or not enough evidence.

Warm fuzzy feeling? Hmmm I don’t think its just that. Faith in God is not the feel good movie of the year. Its a lot deeper than that. But in order to cope with the fact that you don’t have anything to fill the void left by not believing in God you sit and rail against God and believers.

I and many other atheists I know do not have this huge emotional reaction to God not being there. Its just not on our radar. If its on someone elses then fine. But not on mine.

And its funny as well to me that people can’t accept that an atheist is saying “There’s no God and I’m fine with that, they believe and I’m fine with that too” so I MUST be posing or faking.

How fucking lame.

454

[QUOTE=red_awning]
Again I point out that its interesting that the angry atheists say the reason Religion is offensive is because of the “issues” yet they stedfastly remain arguing the concept of faith.
[/quote]
And why is religion so destructive on so many issues ? Because it’s based on faith; on insanity, in other words.

[QUOTE=red_awning]
Warm fuzzy feeling? Hmmm I don’t think its just that. Faith in God is not the feel good movie of the year. Its a lot deeper than that.
[/quote]
No, it’s not. It’s shallow, empty, sterile, stupid. All surface, no substance. And no potential for progress of any kind.

[QUOTE=red_awning]
But in order to cope with the fact that you don’t have anything to fill the void left by not believing in God you sit and rail against God and believers.
[/quote]
What “void” ?

455

[QUOTE=Voyager]
Really? The SPR has been around for well over a century. They started just before Madame Curie started working on radiation. On the science side, we’ve got nuclear power, bombs, and a pretty good understanding of the interior of the atom. On the spiritual side we’ve got … Psychic Friends Network?

Sorry, joke. I realize that has nothing to do with what you’re talking about, but there hasn’t been a lot of progress, and no reason to expect any.

That’s certainly neither irrational nor gullible, but I think it is excessively hopeful.
[/QUOTE]

It’s not just hopeful if it’s about personal growth and having a more positive input in the society we live in, our immediate family and friends etc. At some point speculation about the nature of god and what may or may not happen after we die becomes moot and the moment at hand becomes what matters. We seek a little insight from Fred when problems arise and notice that things work out a little better.
I think the rise in atheism , or at least atheism’s coming out party, is progress, as well as that report that says there’s a rise in people unaffiliated with a particular group. We must examine and eventually reject old myths and superstitions and beliefs designed to promote unnecessary separation.

That will be a long slow process. I just don’t agree with those who want to lump all spiritual belief systems together and discount them without really trying to sift the positive from the negative. It seems like throwing the baby of real human growth out with then bathwater of superstition.
btw, excessively hopeful is a much better term than most use. Thanks.

456

The void that’s obvious? I mean if you don’t believe in God good for you. Why do you care so much that others won’t come over to your team?

Dawkins wrote The God Delusion and did the same thing. He says he’s talking about God but spends the entire book arguing religion and attacking what religion does. But he had to concede that he can’t explain from an evolutionary standpoint why God belief survived. What purpose does it serve?

See when you get caught up in being all pissed off at people for having faith you forget that most people, the majority of people on the planet since the beginning of human history believe in some sort of God theory.

So why would you get mad at people who are result of that? You say you’re “scientific” about evidence and proof. Well the evidence and proof points to an evolutionary consistency of God belief.

So how can you get upset with people for believing as they are programmed to believe?
Its really sort of stupid to get upset in my opinion. Unless there is an ego motive for you.

457

AsI understand it the first Christians were Communist.

Monavis

458

[QUOTE=Triskadecamus]
Um, I’m not pretending that God loves me. I might be wrong, but I am not pretending. If anything, I am pretending that He loves you, and wants me to learn to do that as well. But, I think I am right about that too, it’s just a bit harder in practice. For me, that is.

I am sure that that is entirely illogical as well, but it is important to me.

Tris
[/QUOTE]

well said Tris

Many years ago when I held more traditional beliefs I embraced a basic tenant. If your beliefs don’t change your life and help make you a better person, what good are they?

  The day to day stuff of life and dealing with people is where our beliefs are best expressed and where they are tested and refined by life's challenges. We won't lack in opportunities to grow.
459

[QUOTE=red_awning]
The void that’s obvious? I mean if you don’t believe in God good for you. Why do you care so much that others won’t come over to your team?
[/quote]
Because they are a danger to everyone. As I’ve said, repeatedly.

[QUOTE=red_awning]
But he had to concede that he can’t explain from an evolutionary standpoint why God belief survived. What purpose does it serve?
[/quote]
To propagate itself; nothing more.

[QUOTE=red_awning]
See when you get caught up in being all pissed off at people for having faith you forget that most people, the majority of people on the planet since the beginning of human history believe in some sort of God theory.
[/quote]
That’s what happens when the believers kill those that don’t believe. Except the women; those are raped.

[QUOTE=red_awning]
So why would you get mad at people who are result of that? You say you’re “scientific” about evidence and proof. Well the evidence and proof points to an evolutionary consistency of God belief.

So how can you get upset with people for believing as they are programmed to believe?
[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes: Because it’s stupid.

460

Ok again you say its be cause of the “danger” to others but the “danger” to others has been pretty much balanced out by the caring for those who are in need. If it wasn’t for the soft hearted people that tried to help the less fortunate I think from an evolutionary stand point he world would be a better place.

Btw so what they kill etc. Isn’t that just evolution in action? The dominant group smashes the weaker. So quit whining.
No what’s stupid is saying that your concerned because the believers are a danger to others when what you mean is you just don’t like them. Period.

You just use the “danger to others” line to launch a barrage of attack against people you are prejudiced against trying to make it seem somehow a moral stance rather than the childish whining it really is.